Hurricane and Tornado Wind Info

WIND SPEED IN MPH   /   VISUALS

** 19 - 24 mph - Small leafy trees sway and small waves will form on ponds and lakes, flags whip.
** 25-31 mph - 4 inch & larger branches moving, telephone, power wires and chain link fences whistle.
** 32 - 38 mph - Large whole trees in motion, becomes hard to walk totally upright against the wind. Shingles begin to lift.
** 39-46 mph - Green twigs begin to break off. You have to lean into the wind when you walk. Shingles flap violently.
** 47- 54 mph - 3 inch or larger green branches break. Chimneys and shingles begin to tear off. TV antenna masts bend and antennas are destroyed.
** 55 - 63 mph - Trees begin to uproot. Structural damage starts getting serious. Large sections of roofs and roofing tear off and fly. Patio roofs and awnings destroyed. Some Mobile Homes begin to suffer damage. Walking nearly impossible.
** 64-72 mph - Structural damage widespread and major. Mobile home skins peel. Entire roofs blow off and windows blow in. Mobile homes displaced. Cement block parapets begin to collapse.
Weather nets are primarily concerned with what we are observing RIGHT NOW.

* First priority: Warn people so that they may seek safety and avoid injury or death.
* Second priority: Safeguard property.

If a weather net is brought up, it will be a directed net during the time that weather reports are sought. Generally on the hour and half-hour.

Remember:

Rule #1. LISTEN, LISTEN, and LISTEN, constantly before transmitting.
Rule #2. Once you have checked in to any net, do not leave that frequency without notifying the NCS.
Rule #3. Net Control will give net check in instructions and observation requests at the beginning of the net, and as often as possible. Stations should check into the net as instructed and report ONLY those things that Net Control has requested. These requests may be changed, depending on circumstances.

DO NOT CHASE!

WHAT TO REPORT: (Time, Effect and Location)

Tornado on the ground
Funnel cloud -(a funnel cloud is not a tornado, as it is not on the ground)
Waterspout
Wall Clouds- (make sure it's not a rain column...a wall cloud will not extend all the way to the ground. Make sure it is not a Shelf Cloud. A shelf cloud will usually have a "tail" that is fairly level and pointing in the same direction the storm is moving.) A wall cloud "tail" (if one is present) will be trailing the direction of the storm and often points downward. Wall clouds can and do rotate...shelf clouds do not.
Drastic sustained wind speed changes, especially if rotation is present in cloud structures.
Please, report ONLY what net control requests. A weather net will not be brought up unless the NWS requests this.